14 DAY TRIAL // Yesterday, the news broke that, despite opposition from conservationists and even some wildlife researchers, Western Australia had decided to move forward with its planned shark cull.
Thus, media reports said that, on Sunday, a female tiger shark that got caught in a drum line was pulled out of the water and shot in the head four times. Its body was then thrown back overboard.
Sea Shepherd, whose members have long been protesting the butchering of whales and dolphins, was quick to point out that there was not all that big of a difference between Western Australia's shark cull and slaughters carried out by Japanese fishermen.
“How can we condemn Japan for the indiscriminate killing of whales and dolphins and do this to our precious protected marine life here in Australia?” the organization says.
On its website, Sea Shepherd goes on to explain that, despite the fact that some might not hold them very close at heart, sharks are part and parcel of marine ecosystems. Hence, Western Australia's shark cull is very likely to upset aquatic environments.
According to the organization, the female tiger shark killed this past Sunday was not just shot dead. On the contrary, it most likely suffered tremendous pain while being caught up in the drum line.
Besides, it would appear that, apart from putting four bullets in its head, the fishermen who killed it also cut open its stomach before dumping its carcass out at sea.
“It's difficult to tell how much pain she would have been in for up to 12 hours with Barnett's brutal hook through her mouth. She was then brought alongside the boat by the fisherman and shot four times in the head before she finally died.”
“She was then gutted and then dragged out to sea and dumped. It was a cruel, painful and unnecessary death,” Sea Shepherd says.
The organization wants to coordinate several rallies intended to protest the shark cull this coming February 1, and is asking that those who share their opinion on the matter at hand join them. The rallies will take place in various locations across both Australia and New Zealand.